Grants and projects worth £30 million are now available to help churches, cathedrals and schools kickstart local projects to help reduce carbon emissions arising from the energy used in buildings and work-related transport by 2030. Find out more in this short guide to net zero grants on the Church of England website.
Get grant-ready!
How can you get your church ready and eligible to apply for grants focused on Net Zero Carbon?
- Join A Rocha Eco Church and start getting awards
- Submit your Energy Footprint Tool data annually
- Get started with the Practical Path to NZC for churches
- Switch to a renewable electricity tariff
Where can I find out about grants and funding for Net Zero Carbon?
- National List of Charitable Grants for Churches (updated July 2023)
- Cornerstone Grants Database (new for 2025)
The National Lottery funds community-led projects that improve the environment and help people connect with and enjoy nature where they live.
You can use the funding to:
- start a new activity or continue an existing one
- help your organisation adapt to new challenges
- run one-off events that have a clear environmental benefit.
They’re looking to fund projects that:
- help people connect with and care for nature in their area
- make a positive difference to the environment
If you're looking for more general funding for community projects, go to the National Lottery Awards for All England page.
Suitable for Voluntary, statutory or community organisations, funding size £300 - £20,000 for up to two years, application deadline 17 December 2025.
Local Grants
- South Cambs District Council
- Rural England Prosperity Fund - closes 24 August - £10,000 - £50,000 to support a range of community initiatives such as rural travel, improvements to local rural green spaces, rural circular economy projects, volunteering opportunities, digital projects or schemes that create a sense of local pride. Email sharedprosperityfund@scambs.gov.uk for more info.
- Other grants currently offered by SCDC include the Allotment Improvement Grant, the Community Growing Grant and the Community Chest Biodiversity Grant.
- Zero Carbon Communities Grant - closes 1 July - £2,000 to £15,000 available for community groups and parish councils to complete projects that reduce carbon emissions, or increase community engagement.
- Electric vehicle Chargepoint Grant - closes 1 July - Now up to £12,000 towards the installation of a public EV charger. Community Chest Biodiversity Pot - Up to £2,000 for projects that create or improve habitats; plant native trees or hedgerows; install bat or bird boxes
- Fenland District Council
- Glassmoor Local Environment Fund - a small grants fund available to groups in Whittlesey, Coates, Eastrea, Pondersbridge and Ramsey Mereside and the surrounding area to fund projects that improve the environment and enhance residents' knowledge of an environmental issue, including Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy, Water Efficiency, Wildlife, Waste and Transport - closes March 31.
- Huntingdonshire District Council
- Community Chest Grant Scheme - community groups and organisations are invited to apply for projects which include those that help to lower carbon emissions.
National Funding Opportunities
- Energy Efficiency Sharematch
- Energy Resilience Fund
- The Stobart Sustainability Fund
- For State-funded education institutions - Workplace Charging Scheme
- King Charles II Charitable Fund - A small grants programme dedicated to supporting UK-registered nonprofit organisations that make a meaningful difference in key areas such as social inclusion, health and wellbeing, education, environment, countryside, and heritage and conservation.
- The Green Community Grants Programme from Wildlife Trusts - closes 8 October - offers one-year flexible funding for not-for-profit groups in England, Scotland and Wales with an annual income between £10,000 and £1 million. Grants of up to £25,000 are available, groups can apply for no more than 25% of their annual income. To be eligible for funding, you must have been operating for a minimum of 12 months, and your organisation's main aims and objectives must fit with one of the two funding themes: Contributing to nature recovery and responding to the climate emergency or Improving nature-rich spaces and access to them. Funding can also be used for a wider range of sustainable activities, including recycling, litter picking, beach cleans or sustainable transport.